Many groups claim Baklava as their own. However,
a check of the history of baklava yields surprising results. It
is widely believed that it is of Assyrian origin. Around approximately
the 8th century B.C.,
Assyrians baked thin layers of dough with
nuts, poured honey over it, and enjoyed this sumptuous treat.

Baklava was baked only on special occasions,
usually by the rich who could afford such
a luxury.

The history of Baklava changed
with the history of the land. The Near and
Middle East saw many civilizations come and go. Baklava and
the recipe had spread to the Near East, Armenia, and Turkey. With
the advent of the Grecian Empire, it spread westward to Greece.

Phyllo dough is named after the greek word
for "leaf", being "as thin as a leaf".
The thickness (or for that matter, the thinness) of Phyllo gives baklava is delicious
crispy taste.
So, when some people eat a piece of baklava,they may want to think of Greece.
However, the history of baklava reveals it came from farther East... Even so,
various countries
offer tasty variations and have loyal followings.

Ask the Greeks and they
will say: "The Lebanese stole the recipe."

Ask the Lebanese and
they will say: "The Greeks stole the recipe."

Ask the Turkish and they will say: "Our
Pashas and Viziers (rulers) owned the recipe"

Ask Armenians and they
will say: "We invented and improved the
recipe" (with spices)

Ask all of them and they
will say: "Our baklava is better than all
the rest" and "Our pronounciation is the correct
pronounciation of the word Baklava."

The history
of baklava - as colorful as the history
of the lands of the Mediterranean and the
Middle East.
Bon Appetit!

Link your web page to this page. Insert this code in your page:
<
a href="http://www.GourmetBaklava.com/history.of.baklava.html">History
Of Baklava</a>